'I feel privileged' says First Traditional Owner to address Cabinet in Victoria

Taungurung Traditional Owner Mick Harding made history this month by becoming the first Aboriginal person ever to address the Victorian Cabinet. Speaking to NITV Radio, he says, "I stand on the shoulders of giants - our ancestors."

Taungurung Traditional Owner Mick Harding with his community of the Kulin Nations performing Tanderrum 2016 at Federation Square. Melbourne Festival Source: Rebecca Hosking 2016

"If you imagine change, you imagine all sorts of possibilities," Dagungwurrung (Taungurung) Traditional Owner, Mick Harding tells NITV Radio. "I stand on the shoulders of giants - our ancestors, we call them Lewik."

"I feel privileged to have had that opportunity. I'm hoping that what I did and what I said makes them proud and other people proud." 

Dagungwurrung (Taungurung) Traditional Owner Mick Harding has become the first Aboriginal man in Victoria to address the State Cabinet.

He spoke on the legislation component of a Treaty between the First Peoples and Victorian State Government.

After 18 months of consultation the Aboriginal Treaty Interim group are now facilitating an assembly to design the representative body for Aboriginal Victorians.

"Time is the enemy and it is important for the process to move forward while the current government supports the Treaty process," Mr Harding says.

Listen to Mick Harding's full interview with NITV Radio in the player above.